bateleur

Half an hour before sunset, first time I got a chance to see a bateleur close up.

Juvenile

The Bateleur, one of my favourite raptors, is a medium-sized eagle. Its closest relatives are the snake eagles. The national emblem of Zimbabwe, it is endemic to Africa and small parts of Arabia. "Bateleur" is French for "street performer". To all of you who welcomed me back and said such nice...

A Bateleur Eagle feeding on an unknown bird - Namibia, September 2017

And then there were the many eagles and vultures we saw. Bateleur was one of them. Again, not one I got the best shot of, but a decent record shot. Better that than the two eagle species I missed shots of entirely.

Bateleurs seem to be the most common of the eagles seen in Samburu, northern Kenya. These two had a nest in the trees by the Ewaso river and both started calling, perhaps because of some vultures flying close overhead.

The unique Bateleur is arguably Africa's classiest-looking raptor. Most closely related to the snake eagles, its distinctive broad winged and short tailed silhouette makes for ready identification. This adult was photographed taking a bath in the world famous #Kruger National Park in South Africa.

In the Okavango Delta

Looking up at the tree where their nest was: it was just looking us in the face.

A great looking raptor, cooling off in the heat of the Kruger National Park. Wonderful to be able to capture this image.

I saw this a few times in Botswana but only up high and this is the only time I could get a reasonable record shot of it. Should be a male?

Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus), Mala Mala Reserve, South Africa

Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) Kruger National Park, South Africa

Saw this one while on safari at Arathusa Safari Lodge near Kruger.

Taken near Olifants camp in central Kruger.